Four Swimmers Conquer Kapiti Channel

Chronicle (Levin), 16 February 1948, Page 2

Four Swimmers Conquer Kapiti Channel

The channel separating Kapiti Island from tlie mainland, abont 5 miles wide at the shortest distance, was svvuiu yesterday afternoon by a team of four young men actmg as the spearhead of the l'etone Amateur, Swimming and Lite-saving Club. They were Tom l'earson (IS), Vernon Lester (21), Itoy Ilolmes (17) and Barry Daniels (21), ail experiem'ed long-distance swimmers. Local opinion was that the coldness of the water in the deep channel and the swif t currents would prove an insuperable barrier but the Petone men "eame, saw and conquered" in no uneertain manner. Parajjaraumu launcli owners rose to the occasion generously and some six or seven boats took the swimmers across to tlie island. About 1 p.m. the ydung men began to swiiu bac-k to Paraparaumu, taking about 2hrs 13mms in a fairly choppy sea, thus becoiuing, as far as is known, Ihe lirst whites to swim across. They did not swim struighi across but at the start went in a northerly direct iou and then came down with tlie current to land, except for Daniels, practieally opposite ffom.where they set ol'l' on Kapiti. The swim wai thus more tliau 5 miles. The event was promoted by .Mr. P. A. Elder, a well-known Rangitilcei resiclent, who offered a souvenir trophy antl the club proposes to pureliase a cup. Comnieuting 011 the experience Roy Holmes said that, apart from a frigh: when some porpois'es approached, .and fnuliug the waves aml rip more troublesome tlian expected, the swim was un-_ eventful. l'earson came, ashore at 3.2 p.m., Eistervat 3.-1 p.m., Holmes at 3.10 p.m. and Daniels at 3.20 p.m.. The launches circled tlie swimmers during the whole journey.